Saratoga Technologies Microsoft CRM Blog

This is some information that i got and thought i would repost from the Microsoft Dynamics Team Site. Very Handy!

Announcing the sixth update to the Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 SDK. You can download it here or read it online at the CRM Developer Center.

What’s New in this Release?

Updates include:

• E-mail Provider documentation – Have you wanted to know about creating a custom e-mail provider? This all new section gives you the basics!

• Customization file reference – This newly completed section describes the details you need when working with the form and saved query sections of the customization file.

• Updated Plug-in sample code – We have rewritten the sample plug-ins to use Dynamic Entity. For more information, refer to these blog posts.

• Using CRM URLs and the PrependOrgName function – This topic talks about constructing URLs for different deployment types. The PrependOrgName function helps you create the correct URL for on-premise deployments.

• New sample code – As always, we’ve added more sample code.

• Check the Release History table for a complete list of updates and additions to this release.

The Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Software Development Kit (SDK) is for developers, system customizers, and report writers.
It contains all new information about creating plug-ins, working with custom workflow activities, using the new Web services, using new data management features, and much more.This SDK contains information for developers writing server side code, custom business logic, integration modules, workflow assemblies, and more. It provides an architectural overview of Microsoft Dynamics CRM, the entity model, security model, and Web services. Sample code and walkthroughs guide you through the new features.

The SDK also contains information for developers customizing the Web client or Microsoft Dynamics CRM for Microsoft Office Outlook, including scripting, integration of custom Web pages, sample code, and a detailed user interface style guide.

Look for regular updates to this SDK. Future releases will include the ISV Guide.

Today, Microsoft released to partners its revised vison and statement of direction for Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Within the contents include an executive summary that mentions the next major release of Microsoft Dynamics labeled V.Next which is targeted release is around late 2009 to early 2010.

The statement of direction mentions the Roadmap for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0, and the strategic review of mobility options for Microsoft CRM. Microsoft has also formed an alliance with TenDigits as well to help provide mobility solutions to the platform.

There is a mention as well of the Microsoft System Center Mobile Device Manager 2008, and finally more information about the CRM Accelerators that will be a new range of add-on solutions which are being developed as showcases to broaden the capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics CRM.

The document also contains a detailed description about each accelerator and screenshots of a few ones such as e-service, and the analytics accelerator. AWESOME! If you are a partner you must see these value adds for your client base!

Also in the document Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online is mentioned and the planned releases it will undergo as well in the short term and on the development move to the “V.Next” Platform. Which is defined in the document as a Best-Of-Breed Business Solution Platform. I completely agree and i posted a previous article as well last month entitled “CRM 4 - Ultimate business platform?”

The complete document is available to Microsoft Dynamics Partners to download at the following link.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM - Statement of Direction Download

The users guide for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4 (on premise) has been updated and is now available from Microsoft in both word and pdf formats in the Microsoft download center. Here is the link below

 http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=0DB4D487-1BAA-4619-9BC5-074D73C3997D&displaylang=en

I was reading up on the great features of windows workflow foundation in Visual Studio .Net 2008 and the 3.5 .Net Framework, and thought i would post some of the resources that i came across. If you haven’t explored with the workflow foundation outside of Microsoft CRM there is alot of additional functionality that you can add to your line of business applications.

Hands on virtual lab: Intro to WF
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032344914&culture=en-US

MSDN Webcast - Workflow Foundation Tools in VS.NET 2008
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032370641&culture=en-US

MSDN Webcast - Integrating WCF and WF in VS.NET 2008
http://msevents.microsoft.com/CUI/EventDetail.aspx?EventID=1032377132&culture=en-US

Here is a complete list of MSDN WCF Videos

1. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 01 of 15): Overview (Level 100)
2. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 02 of 15): Contracts (Level 200)
3. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 03 of 15): Contract Versioning (Level 200)
4. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 04 of 15): Exceptions and Faults (Level 200)
5. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 05 of 15): Bindings (Level 200)
6. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 06 of 15): Hosting (Level 200)
7. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 07 of 15): Messaging Patterns (Level 200)
8. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 08 of 15): Instancing Modes (Level 200
9. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 09 of 15): Concurrency, Throughput, and Throttling (Level 200)
10. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 10 of 15): Security Fundamentals (Level 200)
11. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 11 of 15): Federated Security (Level 200)
12. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 12 of 15): Reliable Messaging (Level 200)
13. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 13 of 15): Transactions (Level 200)
14. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 14 of 15): Message Queuing (Level 200)
15. MSDN Webcast: Windows Communication Foundation Top to Bottom (Part 15 of 15): Extensibility (Level 200)